Using an unmanned aerial vehicle to evaluate nitrogen variability and distance effect with an active crop canopy sensor

B. Krienke, R. Ferguson, B. Maharjan

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ground-based active sensors have been used in the past with success at detecting nitrogen (N) variability within maize production systems. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) presents a new opportunity to evaluate N variability with unique advantages compared to ground based systems. Two datasets were used to quantify the appropriate operating distance above a crop canopy, and make comparisons between ground-based systems and a UAV-mounted active sensor. In this study, an active sensor mounted on a UAV was able to detect differences similarly to the handheldbased sensor. Distance from canopy sensing capabilities are sensor-specific, which needs to be taken into account when implementing such a system. The Aerial Active platform used in this study was shown to operate effectively within a range of 0.5 to 1.5 m above the canopy. Unmanned aerial vehicles provide potential for automated data collection to quantify crop stress using active sensors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationPrecision Agriculture 2015 - Papers Presented at the 10th European Conference on Precision Agriculture, ECPA 2015
EditorsJohn V. Stafford
PublisherWageningen Academic Publishers
Pages143-149
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9789086862672
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
Event10th European Conference on Precision Agriculture, ECPA 2015 - Tel-Aviv, Israel
Duration: Jul 12 2015Jul 16 2015

Publication series

NamePrecision Agriculture 2015 - Papers Presented at the 10th European Conference on Precision Agriculture, ECPA 2015

Other

Other10th European Conference on Precision Agriculture, ECPA 2015
Country/TerritoryIsrael
CityTel-Aviv
Period7/12/157/16/15

Keywords

  • Active sensors
  • Maize
  • Nitrogen variability
  • Unmanned aerial vehicle

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Computer Science Applications

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